/ Featured Article
Make sure to have these 5 tools every time you ride
Sometimes, being prepared can save you from the hassle of getting stranded.
Sometimes, no matter how well we maintain our motorcycles, trouble still catches up with us. Be it on long rides, or even short commutes to work or errands, accidents and unforeseen events can occur, causing us to stop at the side of the road and perform some emergency repairs. Today, let’s talk about five essential tools you should always be carrying with you every time you ride your motorcycle, regardless of whether your ride is short or long.
Allen keys
Nearly all motorcycles make use of components which are fastened via Allen bolts. These bolts can only be removed or tightened with an Allen wrench that fits perfectly with its corresponding size. Nearly all major components—engine protectors, chain guides, body bolts and fasteners, and accessories are installed with varying sizes of Allen bolts. Most commonly, you’d like to have everything from a 2.5mm all the way to a 6mm Allen wrench with you at all times. These tools are rather affordable, and can easily be purchased online or at your nearest hardware store for a couple hundred pesos.
Screwdrivers
Next to Allen bolts, most motorcycles make use of either Phillips or JIS screws and fasteners. These are typically found on lighter weight components such as fairings and bodywork. That said, getting to your bike’s vital components often involves the removal of fairings. As such, it’s best to be able to easily remove all your bike’s bodywork before addressing the bigger issues that need to be fixed. A screwdriver is also handy for when you need to replace your battery or deal with electrical issues on your bike when you’re out on the road, as most motorcycle battery terminals are secured with a standard Phillips or JIS screw.
Electrical/ duct tape
There’s an old belief that duct tape can fix everything. As it turns out, there is a grain of truth to this saying. While duct tape certainly can’t fix a problem like, say, catastrophic engine failure, it can indeed provide a temporary fix for issues such as broken bodywork, mirrors, levers, and even sometimes broken bones (ouch). Having a roll of duct tape and electrical tape in your backpack every time you ride can also make it easier for you to attend to any emergency electrical repairs, should you ever find yourself in the middle of nowhere and needing to splice some wires.
Tire repair kit
No matter how carefully we ride, we just can’t avoid getting punctures, especially when passing through roads with construction or areas with lots of dirt and debris on the side of the road. That said, it’s always best to be prepared. A tire repair kit consists of a few rubber strips, as well as a plunger tool to insert the strips into a puncture. This kit is very small, lightweight, and cheap to buy, retailing for just a few hundred pesos. Always carry this in your pack, as it could definitely come in handy if you find yourself running flat in the middle of nowhere. Who knows, maybe you could even help someone in need, too?
Adjustable wrench
An adjustable wrench is also incredibly useful, especially when dealing with the heavier, more robust components of your motorcycle. Most wheel nuts, sliders, and crash guards are fitted via hex bolts, and can only be removed with a wrench. It’s also useful in working on other parts of your motorcycle, such as the exhaust system, drain bolts, and other important components. An adjustable wrench is a lot smaller, lighter, and cheaper than a set of combination wrenches, so we highly recommend picking one up and keeping it in your emergency tool kit.
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